Need to utilize socioeconomic registration data optimally: Widodo

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked his ranks to utilize the Socioeconomic Registration (Regsosek) data optimally in order to provide social protection to the community.

He conveyed this during a limited meeting with a number of ministers from the Onward Indonesia Cabinet to discuss Regsosek data management at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

"Starting from regular social assistance, PKH (Family Hope Program), BPNT (Non-Cash Food Assistance) and subsidies, and social security, all of them will utilize data from the Regsosek. Likewise for community empowerment in labor-intensive activities, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), human resources development, and also in social convergence," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said while issuing a press statement at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

He informed that the government will issue a presidential instruction, which will be prepared by data stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).

In the future, the data produced by Regsosek will continue to be updated for social protection programs, he informed.

During the meeting, President Widodo also instructed officials to continue implementing the food aid program, namely, the provision of rice assistance, until December 2023.

The government will also implement a policy on value-added tax (VAT) on purchases of houses or property worth under Rp2 billion, Hartarto said.

"The government will fully cover VAT on property purchases under Rp2 billion until June next year, and will cover 50 percent of the VAT after June 2024," he disclosed.

Meanwhile, for low-income communities, the government will also provide administrative assistance, the minister added.

According to Hartarto, administrative assistance costs include Tax on the Acquisition of Land and Building (BPHTB) and other fees amounting to Rp13.3 million.

"The government will contribute Rp4 million for each family until 2024," he said.